The Bluegrass Situation (or BGS, as it’s come to be known) is the world’s largest community for American roots music, culture, and lifestyle.

Co-founded by lifelong music fan Ed Helms (The Office; The Hangover) and executive director Amy Reitnouer Jacobs in 2012, what began as a blog for like-minded Angelenos pining for bluegrass in Southern California has morphed and developed over more than a decade to become an international standard-bearer for all of the things beloved within every branch and offshoot of the roots music family tree.

From vibey folk-pop to ravishing alt-country; plus blues, singer-songwriter, Americana, old-time, and everything else above, below, and in-between. BGS proudly represents a unique gathering place: Supporting and uplifting the rich, diverse, and varied history of these musics (as well as the artists and fans who keep them alive), while looking ahead with a progressive vision to transform these folkways and traditions into a carefully curated, 21st century lifestyle open to all.

It’s really quite simple: